Desiree JenningsHi, I’m Desiree! I live on the North Side and have been in Pittsburgh for 13 years. I call Atlanta, Georgia, my hometown, and come from a large, multicultural, multilingual (English and Spanish) family. My husband and I have been married for 20 years and are parents to two creative and spirited girls, aged 14 and 8. I’m a full-spectrum birth doula through Masters of Maternity, and plan to receive my Perinatal Doula Practitioner certification by Spring 2026. I love music, singing, dancing, and roller skating, and am always looking for a new book to read, a great podcast to listen to, a fun place to thrift, and a good conversation to spend time in.
My passion for doula care was sparked by my own diverse experiences with pregnancy, birth, early motherhood and maternal care. I had beautiful, uplifting birth and labor experiences in which my care was provided with expertise and dignity, my needs were met fully, and I was enveloped in safety, trust and love. I also navigated debilitating morning sickness throughout my pregnancies, felt overwhelmed by the breastfeeding challenges I faced with both my daughters, and struggled deeply with postpartum depression and anxiety after my first birth. And while I was blessed with several family, friends, and care providers who nurtured me through these experiences, the doula care that I received–prenatal, birth, and postpartum care with my first daughter, and prenatal and postpartum care with my second–was singular. My doulas listened to me with open hearts, offered suggestions and guidance without judgment, remained steady and present through my moments of doubt, reminded me of my strengths and shared in my joys. I was deeply grateful for their compassion and expertise, and their example has been one of the most significant inspirations in my doula journey. I believe pregnancy, birth and early parenthood is rich and complex. One moment, you’re soaring to an incredible high, then the next (or sometimes, in that same moment!), you’re struggling through an immense low. In recognition of this complexity, my doula practice is grounded in four core commitments –curiosity, care, connection and community. I also bring insights from nearly 20 years of work in early childhood-grade 12 education to my practice, as well as experience working with neurodivergent populations and immigrant and refugee populations in a range of communities and contexts. Though I look forward to supporting families throughout the perinatal journey, postpartum care has my heart. I am honored to carry out this sacred work, and delighted to have the opportunity to provide care to you and your family! |
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